Thurs, 28th Sept, 2023 48hr Rest Area, Gilgandra to Ponto Falls campground, near Wellington, NSW (exploring Gilgandra, Dubbo & Wellington)

11.5 degrees min. Lazy morning so didn’t get up till 7.30 when it was 20.5 degrees - better.

Clear sky. Steve spotted a Red-bellied Black Snake slithering across the track towards our camp. I went out onto the step to take a photo and he felt the vibration and turned back to the end of the Museum where a lot of old stuff is stored.

Packed up and drove back to Gilgandra CBD as Wikicamps showed more murals etc to look at. We parked by the river under a lovely tall gum. Bit more water in the river here.

Nice mural of falls which we missed when we did the tourist drive into Warrumbungle Ranges. Will have to mark it for a visit next time.

Wandered along checking out the buildings. Old wooden thresholds on a lot of the old buildings still.

Tried to have a peer into the bike shop but two big dogs barked furiously. The bike competition would have been interesting.

A mural showing all the men joining together in the march to volunteer for the war. Sadly the mural needs refreshing as they were done in 2004.

Further along we found the statue for the Coo-ee March as they called.

Up on the rise is a big Rising Sun hat badge replica - nice for a change instead of a canon etc.

Lots of lovely roses too.

Another mural and windmill as we head back to the truck.

Miller Street information.

Headed out - better shot of the old pub.

Continued south to Dubbo. Passed a police radar gun then a cruising highway patrol - Steve noticed they don’t have any markings on the bonnet so you can’t see them approaching or coming up behind you, which doesn’t worry us as we are never speeding!!

Into Dubbo and around to the Information Centre - another police car has someone pulled over. Probably a blitz for the school holidays.

Another Solar System board with the info that Pluto isn’t a planet any more and all about the drive. Its just a little ball on the board.

Walked down towards the river - Some of the bridge supports have been decorated. Grand old bridge. Walked to the other side. No information. Steve thinks that grain was tipped off the wagons here into the storage sheds beside it.

Looking down on the Macquarie River then further along looking back at the bridge.

Nice murals on the back of the Information Centre.

We drove around to the Museum. Free to enter and it was full of interesting items and information.

Steve went back to school - he remembers sitting at these desks. I loved these books and was devastated when the ‘government’ said they weren’t suitable to kids to read at school. I loved the Famous Five and was going to call my daughter Georgina!!

Walked back to the truck that we parked by a nice park. Made lunch and sat in the park.

We were really sad to see two young boys come down to the pond and started throwing rocks at the ducks. Should have gone over the sorted them out but they probably would have thrown rocks at us!!

We had visited the Gaol and Zoo with the kids in 2003 so we headed off. More police - shame they weren’t in the park!

Headed to Wellington. I remember Mum said her Mum lived around this area when she was young as her father was shearing on a station and her mum did the cooking etc. I looked up my family history info and saw the Electrol Roll info of 1903 showing her father was a station hand at Bodangora which is further north and her mum was in Towri - domestic duties. Nana’s birth was never registered but she knew when her birthday was in 1898 and she had a licence and passport - bit different from nowadays. Her brother was born in Fairfield, Sydney in 1901 and his birth was registered.

Cool breeze and puffy clouds as we drove into down. Lots of pretty trees.

We parked near the site of the last recorded duel in Australia. The sign is between the two trees.

Down the road is the Lion of Waterloo, old Cobb & Co Inn, established in 1842. It still is a Tavern and opens at 4pm each day.

Lovely tree here too.

Walked back to the truck - the duel site was just across the road. Too much drink at the tavern.

Drove further into town, across the Macquarie River. Spotted my shop!

Parked near a park and went for a wander. Checked out the Rotary Suspension Bridge over the Bell River, which flows into the Macquarie River. Originally there was just 44 gallon drums across for the kids playing sport to cross over so they could go to the toilets on this side. Now there is a newer bridge beside the old one. A sign said that platypus are often seen here. Unfortunately none today.

The debris shows the results of floods.

Great photo on the toilet block.

We crossed the road and wandered about checking out the buildings. Found this old Chinese one. Old letterbox opposite the Cow & Calf Hotel (est 1863). Lots of old curbing left too.

Found the Museum up the hill which is in the old Bank of NSW (est 1883) until 1922.

Around the block - different styles from different times.

There are limestone caves around here too. A picture and a mural of them on the side of another old building (est 1899) with pressed metal ceiling.

A board showing some the historical buildings. Will have to come back and do the full history walk.

There were some interesting items in the Art Gallery. We thought this one was great.

Headed back over the Macquarie River then along to the turn off to Ponto Falls camping reserve (can stay for 14 days). Narrow road through some farms to open area by the river. There are sites up on the high bank and lots of room down on the flat by the water. Being school holidays it was full. Drove down and around.

Decided to park up on the high bank for the night. Nice view, some cattle have come down for a drink on the other side and must wander over here too as there are cow pads everywhere. Lots of squawking cockatoos too.

I forgot to put this in when we were having lunch at Moonie. I had taken a photo on my phone to send to Margaret. We are using her place mats she made us on the picnic tables.

Had a cuppa then went for a walk. Found out the river is high so you can’t see the ‘falls’ which is the shallow rapids in front of the campers. Blurry photo from the brochure. Very nice spot.

Back for drinks overlooking the water listening to the cows and birds. Louis rang for a chat - shame he is so busy and can’t join us at Bathurst. Glen, Shelley etc are coming down so we will hope to catch up with them there.

The sun set and then the coolness set in so we headed inside. Clear sky.